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Haredim, the ultra Ultra-Orthodox Jews fighting the state

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Extremist Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been rioting for three days after
social services took a woman's child away from her for alleged starvation.

Known as the Haredi community, the majority of Israel's extremist
Ultra Orthodox Jews live in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood. It was here that a three-year-old, weighing seven kilos, was removed from his mother on Tuesday after social services
were warned that she was starving him. The mother was detained.

Extremists from the community took to the streets in defence of the
mother, burning litter bins, vandalising state property, and attacking civil
servants, from policeman to cleaners. They initially claimed that the boy was
not sick, and then insisted that he was ill because he suffered from cancer. The
hospital he is being treated in, however, deny the claims, saying that his ill-health
is a result of malnutrition, and that his mother has a psychiatric disorder
called Munchausen-by-proxy - which entails abusing someone in order to generate
sympathy.

On Friday (July 17) the mother was bailed, following concerns that protestors
would become even more dangerous if she remained in custody during the Shabbat,
which begins at sundown on Fridays in the Jewish calendar. She is to be tried
later.

The people
behind these riots are extreme Ultra-Orthodox Jews, so they're really a very
small minority. These people live in another world. Their customs are based on
18th century Eastern Europe. They
speak Yiddish, not Hebrew. They live in Jerusalem
for religious reasons but they don't believe in Israel - it's a secular state. They
don't accept the law. Any attempt from the civil police to intervene in their
affairs - like this one - they see as an attack on their society.

Communication
between the Ultra-Orthodox and the police/ rest of the community is not good.
We simply do not interact with them. They live in an isolated area. They don't
go to secular schools or universities, they don't work. They refuse to serve in
the army. We don't even speak the same language. We're like foreigners to them.

They suffer
a high level of poverty. It's very normal to have 12 - 15 children per family
and the husband is a full time scholar, studying in the Yeshiva [Talmudic educational
institute] from 8am until 6pm. The wife has a baby per year after they're
married at 18 and works full time at the Yeshiva doing administrative work.
They live off state funding at what works out at around €800 per month. They
have a strong faith that ‘God will provide'. It's a lifestyle that the vast
majority of Israeli people just cannot understand.

It will die
down - it always does. The mayor will threaten not to collect their rubbish or
something, and they'll forget about it. The Ultra-Orthodox go through a period
of rioting every few months. Something always sets them off - a gay event, a
cinema opening on Fridays..."